MAD MAN

RACHEL

“Uhm…” I stammered. Any dump person can see that this surface-level invitation has something deeper to it, and I'm honestly not ready to be in the middle of whatever games he's playing at.

“I think that’s enough, Dad.” Jae finally cut in, lightly grabbing my shoulders as if steadying me. “Can you adults excuse us now?”

His father frowned slightly. “Alright. I get it. We’ll let you two be.” He turned to me. “Please think about my offer, Rachel. I’d be happy if you do.”

I forced a smile and nodded before Jae guided me toward the hallway. 

The moment we settled on an empty chair we found, he shifted to face me. Heat crawled on my skin slowly. The way his brown eyes looked at me almost made me wonder if he had done this a million times before.

“Look, I’m really sorry about what happened back there. My father…” He lifted a brow. “Well, he’s not always like that. I can only say he probably likes you, which is kind of rare.”

I rolled my eyes. “No comment. I guess I was too shocked to even process everything…”

“It’s fine. No pressure.” He shrugged lightly. “Just so you know, I’m not trying to do that just to get you to go out with me. I just…” He licked his lips before meeting my eyes again. “There’s something really special about you, Rachel.”

Is he hitting on me? 

I mean, a normal girl would probably be melting right now. But no part of me feels any spark with Jae. Yes, he's cool but why does it feel like I want him to be someone else?

Finally, I cleared my throat and turned to face him fully. “We were talking about something earlier,” I reminded him.

He nodded slowly. “Yeah. Right.” Adjusting in his seat, he then exhaled sharply. “You know Wendy, right?”

I frowned. “Yeah? How did you—”

“Wendy’s my sister,” he filled in. A second passed before he added quickly, “Step-sister, to be precise.”

My eyes widened instantly.

Wait. What?

That has to be a joke.

“Wait… you don’t believe me?” His jaw tightened slightly as he studied my face.

“No!” I breathed out. “Uhm… honestly, if I’m being plain here, I’d say no. That’s kind of messed up. How is she… your step-sister?”

The last time I chatted with Wendy, she didn't mention anything about having a brother. We probably didn't talk that deep but still… it…

“Are you asking why my father adopted her,” Jae said slowly, “or why he shouldn’t have? I don’t know exactly…” 

“No, I’m sorry.” I cut in quickly realizing I'd probably hit a spot. Although he tried to hide that fact, the way his eyes kept moving about told me I should really stop. 

“It’s just… that came as a shock. I’ve only met her once but… I mean…”

I paused, exhaling softly. “Honestly, I don’t even know what to say.”

He didn’t say anything. He just sighed loudly and stared at me. The kind of stare you couldn’t really read anything from.

Stop keeping quiet and say something.

“Actually…” he began, his voice lower than before. “I hate talking about anything that reminds me how messed up my family is.”

When he noticed I was probably about to defend myself, he slowly reached for my hand.

“…Not that it’s anyone’s fault,” he added quickly.

“So, back to your question. I don’t know the whole story, but I do know my step-sister somehow managed to get on Thane’s bad side. Even though I think those two should really get their shit together. They’re two grown adults, for God’s sake.”

I blinked, then said slowly, “I don’t believe this whole thing is just about that. Why do I have this feeling you’re lying to me?”

He smirked. Slowly, his eyes slid down to my lips—quickly to meet my eyes again, as if something was distracting him and he was trying hard to discard it. Suddenly we both went quiet.

For me, it was because I was trying my hardest to figure out why I suddenly felt this strange… I don't know. Strange feeling. 

Just when I was about to come up with something, his hand shot toward my face, but I was quick enough to block it.

He laughed. “Hey… relax.”

My shoulders tensed slightly as his fingers slipped into my hair.

“I think you might want to go fix that.”

When he pulled away, I noticed he hadn’t taken anything out of my hair.

“Your… uh… stuff is kind of…” He gestured hesitantly toward my shoulder. “Something’s sticking out right there.”

I followed his gaze and realised my bra was showing slightly. I should have known that would happen when I noticed that part of the dress wasn’t fitting quite right.

I stood up awkwardly after managing a quiet thank you.

This just proved this was Jae’s strong point. The way he said it and made it sound so natural without embarrassing me was something not every guy could pull off effortlessly.

“I’ll be right here,” he said just before I vanished into the crowd.

***

THANE

“Hmmm… Aww! Go—Thane… mm…”

Nina’s voice filled my car.

My back hit the hard leather of the back seat as she rode me frantically.

Slowly, my hands gripped her waist, hard enough to pull her down deeper each time she slammed her hips against mine.

“Oh—fuck, Thane…” she gasped when my hand slid to the back of her neck, steadying myself as I leaned forward to suck the sensitive skin there.

The kiss tore another moan out of her. My head fell back against the window behind us. Just as hers whipped to the side in ecstasy.

“Arrgh… fuck.” A rough groan tore from my oesophagus.

My eyes coiled inside. I didn’t think about anything in that moment. Except for how good my hard rock felt being inside Nina.

“Your father is a monster clothed in human form.” my mum's voice rang in my head the third time.

Those words somehow slipped through the wall I’d tried to lock them behind.

“Liar,” I muttered under my breath as I thrust into Nina again. This time, way harder than the last. My balls felt the effect. But my shaft went deeper.

Faster. I feared I might rip her walls.

She grabbed the muscle of my arm to steady herself. Her mouth parted just enough for me to slide my tongue inside. She kissed me back fiercely, her fingers digging into my hair as she slowed under the force of my rhythm.

“Yes… that’s it, baby,” she breathed.

The echoes faded in my head again like smoke. My eyes slid shut as I matched her pace.

That's when my phone started ringing on the dashboard.

I lifted my head slightly to glance at it, but I barely got a second before Nina gently turned my face away.

“How about we cum now?” she murmured, her warm breath brushing my forehead as she leaned down to kiss me again.

“That makes it the third round,” I reminded her.

She chuckled softly and shifted her hips against mine.

“You know I wouldn’t mind a fourth,” she said with a playful wild grin.

And of course, I knew that wasn’t just talk. Nina could do that. And for a second, I didn’t regret telling her to come over. She knew exactly how to take certain things off my mind.

“How'd you even have this much energy?” I muttered as my hand slid lower, until I'm inside her, making her gasp.

Her hips rolled slightly against my touch.

Just then, my phone rang again.

“I should probably get that,” I murmured against her ear.

She clearly didn’t want me to stop. I didn’t want to stop either. But there was always a chance the call might actually be important.

“Fine.” She stopped gliding over me and pulled away, leaning over to grab my phone before handing it to me.

“Thank you,” I muttered with a small grin.

I wiped the sweat from my forehead before glancing at the screen.

Unknown caller.

My chest tightened instantly. I grabbed my trousers and started pulling them on.

“Why are you getting dressed?” Nina asked softly beside me, already frowning.

I didn’t answer her until I slid my shirt on. “Just wait here in the car,” I said before rushing out.

The second I dialled the unknown number, someone picked up.

“Hello,” I breathed.

“Chile…”

A rough, hoarse voice sounded from the other end, and immediately I knew who it was.

“Joe?” I breathed calmly. “I’m gonna ask you this once. Don’t mess with me. Tell me, what game are you playing?”

“Aight… so you got guts. I’ll give you that,” he said calmly, which only made my blood boil. “But you better fix that tone real quick… ’fore I stop playin’ nice with this cold chick sittin’ beside me.”

A lump formed in my throat as I moved away from the car. My mind was already racing ahead of what those words meant.

“What the hell are you talking about, man?”

“You know what?” He chuckled again. “Patience ain’t really my thing. So do yourself a favour and get your ass down to that gala… before my hand slips. And trust me, you don’t wanna bet on me stopping it.”

He’s talking about Rachel. 

No. He’s messing with me. And this is bad. Rachel shouldn’t be tangled in it.

“Joe, listen. Let my sister go. Deal with me, alright?”

“Oh, she's your sister?” He chuckled lightly. “Man, I coulda sworn it was somethin’ else. Either way… You got ten minutes. Get your ass down here.”

The line went dead before I could say anything else.

Shit!

I grabbed the car handle and jumped into the driver’s seat like something was chasing me.

“Get dressed, Nina,” I said quickly, already trying to start the engine.

“What? Why?”

“Fuck! I don’t have time for this. Just get out of my car!” I barked, glaring at her through the rearview mirror.

She looked furious, but she caught the look on my face. I was ready to throw her out if she didn’t move.

My head was already spinning. I just needed to reach Rachel before I lost my damn mind.

Nina started putting her bra back on. “This is the second time you’ve dumped me like trash,” she muttered. “Don’t forget, you’ll need me again in times like today.”

She kept talking while she zipped up her gown. Then she paused with her hand on the door handle and met my eyes through the rearview mirror.

“What the hell is going on? I at least deserve…”

“Please just fuck off my car, Nina. I’m begging you,” I groaned.

She breathed heavily before storming out and slamming the door.

I didn’t waste a second before speeding off like a madman.